Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
15 – 17 February 2020 Daily Human Rights Report
(02/166) Asylum Seeker Died in Van…
It is learned that on February 15, 2020, 29 Afghan asylum seekers were stopped by border units in Saray district of Van while they were crossing to Turkey, and 1 of them died in hospital due to hypothermia.
(02/167) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 16, 2020 that, 12 prisoners who were transferred from Tekirdağ T Type Closed Prison No 1 to Tekirdağ F Type Prison No 1 under coercion, were subjected to insults of soldiers during transfer; were forced to strip search at the entrance of prison and were subjected to physical violence of the wardens for rejecting strip search. It is learned that 3 prisoners were transferred to Tekirdağ F Type Prison No 2 under coercion and they were subjected to physical violence of the wardens for rejecting to be forced to strip search.
It is learned from the news coverage of February 16, 2020 that, personal belongings of prisoners in Bakırköy Closed Women’s Prison were scattered around, radios of prisoners were seized and some prisoners reacting to it were subjected to physical violence of the wardens during the search on February 14, 2020.
It is learned from the news coverage of February 16, 2020 that, 25 prisoners were transferred from Balıkesir Bandırma Closed Prison to Afyon T Type Prison No 1 under coercion on February 12, 2020; and they were subjected to physical violence of the soldiers during transfer. It is reported that 25 prisoners were put in single cells and were not treated. Names of prisoners are: Mehmet Emin Süer, A. Aziz Kolonç, Abdullah Ongüllü, Cengiz Oktay, Dijwar Nesri İsmare, Engin Okuducu, Habil Ermen, Haki Sonsuz, Hasari Yumşak, İzzethan Aykut, M. Salih Atlı, Mehmet Dağ, Nizamettin Mahmutoğlu, Yusuf Birkan, Akif İpek, Fevzi Adanır, Hayrettin Yılmaz, Hüseyin Akman, Nail Demir, Selim Üldeş, Şevket Bilner, Cihat Oğraş, Kerem Budak, Rızgar Turhan and Selman Esmer.
(02/168) People Subjected to Police Violence in Istanbul…
It is learned that People’s Democratic Party (HDP) Esenyurt district former co-chair Edip Karçik’s house in Istanbul was raided by the police on February 15, 2020; and that Edip Karçik and family members at home were forced to lie down on the grounds and were subjected to physical violence of the police. It is reported that Edip Karçik and Mikail Karçik were taken to hospital due to violence, and that the police said it was “wrong house” and left house.
(02/169) People Subjected to Police Violence in Şırnak…
It is learned that the police raided house of Murat Şen, İdil co-mayor who was suspended, in Şırnak on February 15, 2020 and Murat Şen’s 90 years old mother Fatim Şen and his brother Abdurrahim Şen were subjected to physical violence of the police. Murat Şen’s brother Nurettin Şen is detained.
(02/170) Police Intervention Against “I Want My Job Back” Protest in Ankara…
The police intervened the sit-in protests after press declaration of public labourers who had been dismissed by a state of emergency decree and have been struggling 1195 days to regain their jobs, in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on February 14, 15, and 16, 2020 at 13.30, and at 18.00.
It was reported that the police intervened the press declaration at 13.30 on February 14, 2020, and detained 2 people (Nazan Bozkurt and Merve Demirel).
It was reported that that the police intervened the sit-in protest after press declaration at 13.30 on February 15, 2020, and forced Mehmet Dersulu (4 times), Nazan Bozkurt (2 times) and Alev Şahin away the street by using physical violence.
It was reported that that the police intervened the sit-in protest after press declaration at 13.30 on February 16, 2020, and forced Mehmet Dersulu away the street by using physical violence. It is learned that at 18.00 a group of 4 people attacked Mehmet Dersulu while he was recording the protest. It is reported that attackers were detained by the police. After press declaration, the police forced Mehmet Dersulu away the street by dragging him.
Thus in total 2 people were detained in police interventions in Yüksel Street on February 14, 15, and 16, 2020. It is learned detained people were released on the same days they were detained.
(02/171) Police Intervention to a Protest in Istanbul…
The police intervened the press declaration for Mustafa Koçak, who is on death fast for 228 days in Izmir Şakran T Type Prison, to demand a fair trial, which was held on February 15, 2020 at Khakledon Square in Kadıköy district of Istanbul and detained Mustafa Koçak’s parents Hasan Koçak and Zeynep Koçak.
The police intervened the press declaration of Resistance Assembly, about death fast of Mustafa Koçak, İbrahim Gökçek, Helin Bölek and Progressive Lawyers Association members at Khalkedon Square in Kadıköy district of Istanbul on February 15, 2020 and detained 2 people (Volkan Çeşme and Batuhan Şendağı).
(02/172) Prevention of Saturday Mothers’ Protest in Istanbul…
Police obstructed all the streets around Galatasaray Square in Istanbul to prevent Saturday Mothers who rally every Saturday for 23 years in the same place to gather for the 777th time on February 15, 2020. Upon police prevention, the group including representatives of political parties, human rights defenders and artists along with families of disappeared people held a press declaration on the street of Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul office.
(02/173) Prevention of Human Rights Defenders’ Event in Istanbul…
“F sit-in”, which is organized for the 412nd time by Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul Branch Prison Watch Committee, to demand release of ill prisoners, on February 15, 2020, is prevented by the police. The police obstructed all the streets around Galatasaray Square. Human rights defenders made the press declaration in front of IHD Istanbul office.
(02/174) Detained People in Adana…
On February 14, 2020, Berfin Doğan and Kemal Kaya, 2 of 7 people including 1 child who were detained on February 11, 2020, through an investigation against DEM Music Center in Adana, are arrested by the court on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’. 5 people [Şirda Erol, D. S. (15), İlyas Arzu, Jiyan Savcı and Hakan Taş] are released on judicial control conditions.
It is learned that 11 people who were detained on February 15, 2020 in house raids in Adana for their social media posts, are released on judicial control conditions on February 16, 2020.
(02/175) Detained Trade Union Executive, Political Party Executives and City Council Member in Ağrı…
On February 14, 2020, 3 of 6 people (Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions Ağrı branch chair Ersin Erinçik, HDP central district co-chair İsmail Çiftçi, HDP central district executive Eşref Yıldırım) who were detained on February 12, 2020 in Ağrı, are arrested by the court on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’. 3 people (HDP district executive Ömer Taş, city council member Sabri Taşdemir and Hamit Taşdemir, former executive of Democratic Regions Party [DBP]) are released on judicial control conditions.
(02/176) Detained People in Batman…
It is learned that 4 people are detained in house raids in Batman on February 15, 2020. Detained people are: Hasan Balicak, Sait Kortun, Abdullah İltaş and Abdulvahap Tüzün.
(02/177) Detained People in Diyarbakır…
It is learned that at least 20 people are detained in house raids in Diyarbakır on February 14, 2020. Detained people are: HDP provincial executive İrfan Söner, HDP Bağlar district co-chair Mehmet Atlıhan, HDP Yenişehir district co-chair Sadrettin Kaya, Democratic Islam Congress member Mele Yusuf Andan, DBP Bağlar district executive Ali Alkan, HDP Bağlar district executive Abdullah Dengiz, Rıfat Turfan, HDP Diyarbakır provincial executive Mele Abdullah Arkan, Hasan Çiçek, Mehmet Özçelik, Fuat Öner, Hacı Eroğlu, Halis Tekok and İlknur Meygil.
(02/178) Detained People in Mardin…
On February 15, 2020, 8 people are detained in Kızıltepe, Dargeçit, Nusaybin and Artuklu districts of Mardin. Detained people are: Ahmet Seyhan, Mazlum Acar, Abdulselam Nergiz, Sait Sırdaş and Duygu Aykut.
(02/179) Detained People in Şırnak…
4 people (Abdulhalil Özcan, Ahmet Özcan, Mehmet Hazar and Halil Beğenir) who were detained on the grounds of social media posts, in Şırnak on February 15, 2020, are released on February 16, 2020.
3 people (district council member Hikmet Zan, Mehmet Fidan and Nurettin Şen) who were detained in house raids in İdil district of Şırnak on February 15, 2020 are released on the same day after statement procedures. It is learned that the reason of detention was a funeral they attended in 2014.
It is learned that 10 people are detained in house raids in Cizre district of Şırnak on February 15, 2020. Detained people are: Aziz Erkul, Nupelda Geren, Serhat İnanç and Mikail Bayık.
(02/180) Detained People in Tunceli…
On February 14, 2020, 7 students are detained in house raids in Tunceli. It is learned that 7 people started hunger strike under custody at Tunceli Police Directorate.
(02/181) Detained People in Urfa…
12 people who were detained in central, Viranşehir, Siverek and Hilvan districts of Urfa on February 14, 2020, on the grounds of ‘insulting the President’ and social media posts, are released on February 16, 2020.
(02/182) Detained People in Van…
It is learned that 65 people including Mezopotamya News Agency reported Yunus Duman were detained in Van on February 13 and 14, 2020 and that 34 of them were released on February 16, 2020 while 29 of them are still under custody.
(02/183) Detained HDP Executive in Van…
It is learned that a civilian car stopped HDP Van MP Murat Sarısaç’s car on February 14, 2020 in Van, and detained HDP Party Assembly member Yunus Durdu by forcing him out of the car. Murat Sarısaç shared a video recording of the moments, stating that the car was following his car for a while and the persons in the car hide their faces when he asked who they were.
(02/184) Özgür Gündem Main Case…
The final trial of the case against executive editor Zana Kaya, managing editor İnan Kızılkaya, grant holder Kemal Sancılı, editorial consultants Aslı Erdoğan, Necmiye Alpay, Filiz Koçali, Ragıp Zarakolu and Bilge Aykut and writer Eren Keskin of Özgür Gündem newspaper which was closed down by a state of emergency decree, is held on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 23 on February 14, 2020. The court separated the cases against Filiz Koçali, Ragıp Zarakolu, Zana Kaya, İnan Kızılkaya, Kemal Sancılı and Eren Keskin. The court acquitted Necmiye Alpay, Bilge Aykut and Aslı Erdoğan.
(02/185) Grup Yorum Band Members on Trial in Istanbul…
The first trial of the case against Grup Yorum band members İbrahim Gökçek, Emel Yeşilırmak, Ümit İlter, Caferi Sadık Eroğlu, Barış Yüksel and Betül Varan on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ is held at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 37 on February 14, 2020. İbrahim Gökçek, who is on death fast for 242 days is brought to the courtroom from Silivri Prison. The court acquitted Barış Yüksel, and decided to continue detention of İbrahim Gökçek, Emel Yeşilırmak, Ümit İlter, Caferi Sadık Eroğlu. The court adjourned the trial to March 26 and 27, 2020.
(02/186) Person on Trial in Istanbul…
The final trial of the case against Esin Kavruk, on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ in her social media posts about Turkish Armed Forces operation to north and south Syria, is held at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 36 on February 14, 2020. The court sentenced Esin Kavruk to 1 year 10 months and 15 days for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’.
Esin Kavruk was arrested on October 11, 2019 and was released on January 23, 2020. On November 28, 2019, her ward in Bakırköy Women’s Prison was raided by police to forcefully get a DNA sample from her.
(02/187) Investigation Against Parliamentary Member…
It is learned that an investigation is initiated by Van Public Prosecutor’s Office against HDP Van MP Murat Sarısaç, for he recorded the persons in a civilian car which has been following him, stopped him and detained HDP Party Assembly member Murat Sarısaç who was in the car. It is reported that the investigation was on the grounds of ‘aiding and abetting an illegal organisation’ and ‘insulting a public officer’.
(02/188) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On February 15, 2020, 1 person is detained in Sincan district of Ankara.
6 of 27 people who were detained in operations covering 22 cities through a Konya based investigation on February 4, 2020, are arrested on February 14, 2020. 21 people are released on judicial control conditions.
[1]The reports on the human rights violations of the Documentation Center are claims unless they are certified. The claim of violation either is certified through thoroughly investigations of HRFT Documentation Center, including by judicial verdicts, and becomes a definite data or it is not included to the annual report.
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[5] Daily Human Rights Reports are prepared on the information gathered by the Documentation Center from its own network and the following dailies and internet portals: Vatan, Milliyet, Hürriyet, Habertürk, Evrensel, Birgün, Cumhuriyet, Fırat Haber Ajansı, Jinnews, ETHA, Mezopotamya Ajansı, Yurt, Yeni Yaşam, NTV, Yeni Asya, Bianet, Halkinsesi.tv, Cnnturk, Tr724, İleri Haber, Siyasi Haber, Alınteri, Kızılbayrak, Sendika.org, Yüksekova Haber, T24, Diken, Gazete Karınca, Gazete Duvar. Haber Sol, El Cezire, BBC, Deutsche Welle, Reuters, AFP.